HP unveils the Windows 8 Sleekbook 14 and 15

With Windows 8 on the horizon, there appear to be significantly more companies ready to take advantage of the new OS with a tablet as opposed to the traditional laptop. The new UI for Windows is certainly tablet friendly, but not tablet exclusive. As we get closer to the launch date for Microsoft’s latest OS, it’s expected that manufacturers will be preparing to launch all kinds of devices to support the platform. The latest from HP includes a pair of laptops that have been dubbed Sleekbooks, both running Windows 8.

Instead of being locked into Intel’s Ultrabook category, HP’s Sleekbooks offer a pair of computing systems to support different needs. The Sleekbook 14 (14-inch display) is an AMD powered lightweight notebook packed with all of HP’s latest toys. CoolSense to regulate temperature, ProtectSmart to save your data in case of a sudden impact, and Connected Photo and Music for cloud based storage. The Sleekbook 15 (15.6-inch display) is an Intel based laptop that includes a keypad and support for up to a 1TB internal hard drive, 8GB of RAM, and discrete NVIDIA graphics cards. Both machines come with an HDMI port, as well as USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports. The Sleekbooks are made with glossy plastics with a raised hinge that gives the machines a noticeable gap between the screen and the rest of the machine, but helps it look very thin when closed.

HP has positioned the new Sleekbooks at $499 and $599 respectively, and will come pre-loaded with Windows 8 Standard. As a cheaper alternative to an Ultrabook, HP could see the Sleekbooks do swift business this holiday season.